My friend Bonnie contacted me last winter and asked if I would like to join her on a writer’s retreat at The Writing Barn in the Spring. Being thoroughly enthused about an opportunity to get away, have uninterrupted quiet time and visit Austin, TX, I immediately replied, “Yes.” From January through March, I plowed through my work and daily “mom” responsibilities, knowing that a silver lining awaited me in April.
Bonnie and I arrived at The Writing Barn on Monday, April 1st. We were like two kids approaching a carnival as we drove down the winding road to the lovely building at the far end of the property. Bethany, the owner, was there to introduce us to the inspirational haven that she and her husband created.
Bonnie and I were clear. We had entered the wonderful world of EASE and FLOW.
I remember one of the first things we did was to walk along the library wall. Immediately struck by the plethora of books – we perused them and saw craft books, children’s, biographies, romance and beyond… Bethany’s collection was amazing.
While surveying the wall, one book called to my spirit, “Read me” – so I did.
Write Your Heart Out by Rebecca McClanahan was just what the doctor ordered for me. Her musings, suggestions, ideas about writing helped me to get in the frame of mind for continuing my screenplay.
On Tuesday, I sat and stared at my computer. Half way through my screenplay, (which I had put off until now) I felt lost. It was like I couldn’t find my Mojo. Deep inside, I knew what was happening. My brain was cluttered. It was going to take some time to shed the thoughts of home, family, work…my busy life and some serious love/relationship issues clashing in my head. Then, Bonnie suggested free writing to me. So I did. I must admit I certainly didn’t have any problem releasing it all. I had so much in my mind and heart, it poured out of me.
Then, like a gift from the Divine, two deer appeared outside our door and the rain came, gently, softly as I listened to “Love’s Divine” by Seal. Pure serendipity.
I listened more intently and…..intensely.
Later that afternoon, the drizzle turned into a storm. I’m talking about the kind of southern storm that fills the sky with lightning and releases thunder, rumbling and shaking the earth. Now, that I look back, I feel that nature was reflecting all that was going on inside me…in the most magical way.
Those sounds went on most of the night Tuesday and all day Wednesday….right into the evening. As a matter of fact, when dinnertime came, Bonnie and I had to wait for one of the minuscule breaks in the storm to run to our car. We didn’t mind at all. I think we were both happy about the torrential downpour. I suppose because we live in Los Angeles, California where we (joyfully) have sunshine most of the year, the rain was purifying, cathartic and even soul cleansing. It created the perfect environment for reflection.
And, yes…throughout those days and hours I wrote…and I read…and I wrote some more.
In between, I studied the Buddha statues that Bethany placed perfectly around the Barn. Each seemed to have a special message for me:
Rest.
Be still and know.
Seek Clarity.
Be true to yourself.
Open your heart.
Release.
Claim your freedom.
Love again.
I felt my heart relaxing.
I felt my Mojo returning…and writing turned into a feeling again…which is really the only way I can create. Finally, on Thursday morning, the sun peeked through the clouds and I knew I was experiencing a new day…for writing, for loving…and for living.
This is a small glimpse of the precious moments that I experienced at The Writing Barn.
I am thankful for this place.
I treasure my special friend who brought me there.
I will keep these memories in my heart always.
May each writer or non-writer who goes there experience the peace, inspiration and pure delight of the Writing Barn.
Peace to all,
Jamie R. Balthazar
aka J. Renee LaCour (pen name)
About Jamie R. Balthazar
A passion for visual arts and storytelling gave Jamie Balthazar her start in the field of television production. Early on she combined her skills in writing and art to produce on-air image campaigns at several top TV markets including Miami, and Washington, DC and her hometown New Orleans. After many years in television promotion and public affairs, she decided to pursue long format television.
From 2005 through 2012, Balthazar was a principal of Ruby Red, Inc., overseeing program development and serving as Director and Executive Producer on shows produced by the company. There, she’s co-produced the T.D. Jakes film entitled, On The Seventh Day, which was a part of the Woman Thou Art Loosed Series. The film starred Sharon Leal, Blair Underwood, Pam Grier, Nicole Beharie and Nicoye Banks. In 2011, she directed a documentary short, Irvin Mayfield’s Road to Carnegie Hall, about a dynamic New Orleans musician who created a 90-minute jazz composition, dedicated to Hurricane Katrina’s victims. Balthazar directed a one-hour documentary, Breast Cancer Examined: An African American Perspective for TV One Network and Susan G. Komen for the Cure in 2009. The compelling documentary took an inside look at the lives of women and men who are affected by this deadly disease. She also produced and directed a doc short for the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund, America’s Broken Promise, highlighting the inequalities of the dispensation of Road Home Funds in New Orleans, La.
In 2008, Balthazar directed the hilariously funny TV One unscripted comedy special, Cruisin’ for Love with Kym Whitley. In the fall, she directed a 20 min documentary short, entitled The University of New Orleans – 50 years of Changing Lives. In 2007, Balthazar produced the standup comedy series, The Funny Spot with Tony Rock for TV One Network. Prior to that, she was EP of the 2006 NAMIC Vision awards and BET’s Comic View series (28 episodes), hosted by Sheryl Underwood. She served as co-producer of the independent film Contradictions of the Heart due for release in 2010. Balthazar directed New Orleans: My Home, My Life, My Love, an award-winning documentary about Hurricane Katrina victims that premiered on AOL Black Voices and aired on TV One Network in 2006. She also directed the TV pilot and webisode series for the comedic reality show, Kym Whitley’s Hollywood Hustle.
Prior to Ruby Red, Balthazar was Executive Producer of BET’s Comic View and Executive Producer of BET’s Music Department, Jamie R. Balthazar has enjoyed an exceptional career in providing entertainment to urban audiences. In 2004, Balthazar was Supervising Producer of BET’s highly acclaimed Celebration of Gospel show and Coming to the Stage, BET’s hit comedy competition show (NAACP Image Award Nominee). Balthazar created the first R& B live band shows on BET in 1997 with the highly rated, Planet Groove. There, neo-soul stars like Maxwell, Erykah Badu, Lisa Stansfield, Eric Benet and many others revived R&B with their unique new styles. Balthazar also managed the extremely popular hip-hop show, Rap City, nationally and internationally.
In the late 90’s, Balthazar played a key role as a producer for BBC America, shortly after its launch. There, Balthazar re-versioned comedies, dramas, movies, talk, reality and variety shows originated by BBC in London, tailoring them to the specific tastes of American audiences.
In between shows, Balthazar works on passion projects in her hometown New Orleans. She has worked on several projects over the past 10 years for Cox Communications, Brass Coupe’ Films, and the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation. She is one of the producers of The Legacy of Louis Armstrong,– a half hour documentary highlighting the rich heritage of the jazz legend and line producer of Fauborg Treme – the Untold Story of Black New Orleans – a documentary exploring the history of the oldest African American neighborhood in the U.S. In 2001, she produced the Million Man March a documentary for Cox Communications cable. (Cable Ace Award winner).
Today, Jamie R. Balthazar continues to specialize in writing and producing entertaining, inspiring and family themed films and television shows. She has also become an author under the pen name J. Renee’ LaCour, writing and publishing her first novel entitled The Unsimple Truth. The book received Indiereader.com approval in 2012 and excellent reviews from readers around the world.
WEBSITES:
USA Today:
Good Reads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13499096-the-unsimple-truth
Indiereader.com
http://indiereader.com/2012/06/the-unsimple-truth/